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GEG Stamp inside 1928 Savage


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Just got this Savage 1928 after almost a year waiting on the form 4. It does not have any military markings on the outside so assumed it not military. When I dissambled it there was a GEG inspector stamp on the bottom of the upper receiver near the rear sight. Anyone know the story behind this?

post-175-0-95480700-1552006724_thumb.jpgpost-175-0-72766400-1552006741_thumb.jpgpost-175-0-86765900-1552006756_thumb.jpgpost-175-0-77478800-1552006771_thumb.jpgpost-175-0-61885000-1552006890_thumb.jpgpost-175-0-97840500-1552006935_thumb.jpg

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Even more interesting is the location of the Bridgeport address; at the rear of the receiver.

Some Savage Thompsons in your serial number range were marked like that.

 

There is a photo in American Thunder III, page 120, of Savage Model of 1928 serial number S-93528 with the Bridgeport address at the rear of the receiver That Thompson, part of the Royal Armouries collection at Leeds, England, has the British Woolwich Arsenal Crown-W acceptance stamp.

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S85140 is another Model of 1928 which has the Bridgeport address at the rear of the receiver, I'll check next time I am in the UK if that one has a "GEG inspector stamp on the bottom of the upper receiver near the rear sight".

 

2. 85140 Serial No & Model.JPG 4. 85140 Brideport addresss & Patent No.s.JPG

 

In my extensive notes on TSMGs, I have wrote:

"The first 20,000, (approx.), Bridgeport address 1928’s had the 13 patent numbers roll-marked in the centre of the right-hand side of the receiver and the address at the rear.

From around serial number 100000, this was changed again, the address was roll-marked at the centre of the receiver and the patent numbers were moved to the rear, the final change in the layout, which continued to be used on the subsequent lend lease US 1928A1’s"

 

Stays Safe

 

Richard

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Even more interesting is the location of the Bridgeport address; at the rear of the receiver.

Some Savage Thompsons in your serial number range were marked like that.

 

There is a photo in American Thunder III, page 120, of Savage Model of 1928 serial number S-93528 with the Bridgeport address at the rear of the receiver That Thompson, part of the Royal Armouries collection at Leeds, England, has the British Woolwich Arsenal Crown-W acceptance stamp.

 

 

I don't have access to that book here in Nantucket, can you post a pic of the British Woolwich Arsenal Crown-W acceptance stamp?

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Even more interesting is the location of the Bridgeport address; at the rear of the receiver.

Some Savage Thompsons in your serial number range were marked like that.

 

There is a photo in American Thunder III, page 120, of Savage Model of 1928 serial number S-93528 with the Bridgeport address at the rear of the receiver That Thompson, part of the Royal Armouries collection at Leeds, England, has the British Woolwich Arsenal Crown-W acceptance stamp.

 

 

I don't have access to that book here in Nantucket, can you post a pic of the British Woolwich Arsenal Crown-W acceptance stamp?

2a 85140 Woolwich stamp.JPG ROF Woolwich Stamp.JPG

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Coincidentally I was just wondering what that GEG mark was,

I just bought another Thompson, a British purchase (cash & carry) 1928, Savage, S-86354

It has the Crown-W on the front left hand side of the receiver and along side is a GEG in a circle.

There is no GEG inside the receiver.

Only other marks are the arrow with ESA underneath either side of the receiver at the front

I'll try to post pictures, but at the moment that's defeating me.

post-261394-0-59681700-1552073077_thumb.jpg

post-261394-0-07263000-1552073129_thumb.jpg

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Coincidentally I was just wondering what that GEG mark was,

I just bought another Thompson, a British purchase (cash & carry) 1928, Savage, S-86354

It has the Crown-W on the front left hand side of the receiver and along side is a GEG in a circle.

There is no GEG inside the receiver.

Only other marks are the arrow with ESA underneath either side of the receiver at the front

I'll try to post pictures, but at the moment that's defeating me.

 

George E. Goll, “Rifleman Demonstrator”, begun his association with Auto Ordnance as John T. Thompsons driver. He was AOC's longest serving employee. He also accompanied John T. Thompson on his European sales tour in 1921, Here he is firing a burst from a Model of 1921, before an interested audience of British officers, at Bisley Camp, the Headquarters of the National Rifle Association of the United Kingdom.

 

George E Goll AO Civilian Inspector during WW2.JPG demo1.gif

 

George E. Goll continued his employment with AOC into the 1940’s, in the capacity of AOCs civilian inspector at the Savage Arms Corporations Utica plant between 1940 and 1944. He left his legacy in his encircled GEG stamp, found on most of the Thompson guns produced by the Savage Arms Corporations.

GEG Bridgeport Post June1945.JPG

 

Stay safe

 

Richard

Edited by rpbcps
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Thanks Richard,

That's interesting. Just checked my Savage 1928 A1 and it's marked with the GEG (so faint I never noticed it before)

I'm waiting on my friend at the Royal Armouries here in the UK to decipher the other British marks on the 1928.

 

The 1928 probably has a story to tell as it ended up in Norway. Supposedly left by the Royal Marine Commandos.

It has the typical British top-mounted sling, but a straight fore end,

Given it a service and some new springs so ready for the range!

 

Cheers

Richard

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Thanks Richard,

That's interesting. Just checked my Savage 1928 A1 and it's marked with the GEG (so faint I never noticed it before)

I'm waiting on my friend at the Royal Armouries here in the UK to decipher the other British marks on the 1928.

 

The 1928 probably has a story to tell as it ended up in Norway. Supposedly left by the Royal Marine Commandos.

It has the typical British top-mounted sling, but a straight fore end,

Given it a service and some new springs so ready for the range!

 

Cheers

Richard

 

The Norwegian Navy were using Thompson SMGs through till the 1970’s, so yours may have been an issued weapon with the Norwegian forces, rather than one let by the commandos.

If the commandos had left the Thompson behind, it may have ended up looking more like these ones:

Norwegian Find.JPG Norwegian Find 1.JPG

Here is a photo of the cover of a Norwegian Thompson Manual.

Norwegian TSMG Manual.jpg

Stay safe

Richard

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I know the Norwegians had loads of cast-off equipment after the war, we have had large quantities of K98 rifles (chambered 30-06) into the UK recently from Norway.

Maybe this Thompson was given to them post war, but I'm assuming the British Acceptance marks and sling position point to it's original purchaser?

My interest in purchasing it was because I have a 1928 A1, an M1, and an M1A1, so I needed a 1928 to complete the set of WW2 issue models, and a British one seemed perfect.

It's not likely to get shot too often as I prefer to use the M1A1 which was unissued, unfired when I got it so has no period patina.

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I know the Norwegians had loads of cast-off equipment after the war, we have had large quantities of K98 rifles (chambered 30-06) into the UK recently from Norway.

Maybe this Thompson was given to them post war, but I'm assuming the British Acceptance marks and sling position point to it's original purchaser?

My interest in purchasing it was because I have a 1928 A1, an M1, and an M1A1, so I needed a 1928 to complete the set of WW2 issue models, and a British one seemed perfect.

It's not likely to get shot too often as I prefer to use the M1A1 which was unissued, unfired when I got it so has no period patina.

 

 

I agree 100% about the original buyer of the weapon being the British war Office, but I think they would have been passed on 'officially' to the Norwegians rather than just being ‘left’ by a commando on some raid, is what I meant. Some Norwegian forces were based in Britain in the early years of the war, I have some photos somewhere of them in a location called "Glenmore Lodge", with not only Thompsons, but Lugers and other assorted weapons in their armoury. Indeed the Norwegians even used the British Transit Chests for the storage of their weapons, one recently came up for exchange in Norway a colleague informed me, but had high asking ‘price’.

If you are based in the UK, I am intrigued how you can fire Thompsons, intrigued and anxious to find out how I can get the opportunity to fire one again, in the UK? The only opportunity I had to fire them in the distant past, was while serving in a reserve sqn. of the 11 EOD Regt., when attending training at the Kineton Army School of Ammunition. What did they not have there to shoot was the question, their stock of arms and ammunition was incredible, at the time.

Stay safe

Richard

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I'm a gunsmith and supplier to the film industry, so I have a Section 5 license.

 

I am envious, a dream job!

 

PM sent

 

Stay safe

Richard

Edited by rpbcps
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I bought Col. Terrence McCool's WH28 a few years ago. George Goll put his stamp on it in several locations, as they were friends. Does anyone else have a Westie that has a GEG stamp? Just curious.

Chief762

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Richard,

 

Were the relic Thompson’s you have pictured found under water or under ground? Any other details as it their “story” ?

 

Afraid I do not know, I was just informed they were discovered in Norway and my attempts to find out more info. have been unsuccessful.

This one is definitely an underwater discovery though, the evidence is in the picture!

Tommy gun diver find.jpg

Stay safe

Richard

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Very cool photo! Thank you Richard!

 

I wonder if this was one of those cases where “surplus” weapons were dumped by the pile in the ocean. Heard stories from vets where excess weapons, both U.S. and captured enemy material was just pushed over the side.

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Very cool photo! Thank you Richard!

 

I wonder if this was one of those cases where “surplus” weapons were dumped by the pile in the ocean. Heard stories from vets where excess weapons, both U.S. and captured enemy material was just pushed over the side.

 

Not Thompson related, but an interesting tale.

During Opération Daguet, as the French called Operation Desert Storm, many French Foreign Legionnaires that served over there, picked up a few souvenirs, as soldiers the world over do. At the end of the operation, when they were sailing back to France, a day or so before arriving in Marseille, they were all warned that the Gendarmes would be awaiting the arrival of the ship and all kit would be searched. Anyone found with weapons, munitions etc. would be court-martialled and also risk civil prosecution.

So that night, I was told my one of my colleagues, ‘tonnes’ of pistols, AK’s, RPK’s, PKMs & Dragunovs, went over board into the Mediterranean with loads of munition too!

Ironically, when they arrived in Marseille and rolled off the ship, there was no Gendarmes awaiting their arrival..... and they then drove back to their base in Laudun!

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Very cool photo! Thank you Richard!

 

I wonder if this was one of those cases where “surplus” weapons were dumped by the pile in the ocean. Heard stories from vets where excess weapons, both U.S. and captured enemy material was just pushed over the side.

 

Not Thompson related, but an interesting tale.

 

During Opération Daguet, as the French called Operation Desert Storm, many French Foreign Legionnaires that served over there, picked up a few souvenirs, as soldiers the world over do. At the end of the operation, when they were sailing back to France, a day or so before arriving in Marseille, they were all warned that the Gendarmes would be awaiting the arrival of the ship and all kit would be searched. Anyone found with weapons, munitions etc. would be court-martialled and also risk civil prosecution.

So that night, I was told my one of my colleagues, ‘tonnes’ of pistols, AK’s, RPK’s, PKMs & Dragunovs, went over board into the Mediterranean with loads of munition too!

Ironically, when they arrived in Marseille and rolled off the ship, there was no Gendarmes awaiting their arrival..... and they then drove back to their base in Laudun!

 

I heard a very similar story first hand from a US WWII vet. He personally dropped a Thompson over the side on his voyage home from Europe. In his case as well, no inspection upon arrival.

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